494 



THB bee-kebpbr's guide,; 



color, though this latter seems quite variable. Frequently 

 there is a distinct greenish hue. Beneath the abdomen, and 

 on the back of the head, thorax, and abdomen, it is more or 

 less specked with brown ; while across the dorsal aspect of the 

 broadened abdomen is a marked stripe of brown (Fig. 277, d, d). 

 Sometimes this stripe is almost wanting, sometimes a mere 

 patch, while rarely the whole abdomen is very slightly marked, 

 and as often we find it almost wholly brown above and below. 

 The legs (Fig. 277, b), beak and antennae (Fig. 278, a) are 

 greenish yellow. The beak has three joints (Fig. 278, a, b, c), 

 and a sharp point (Fig. 278, d). This beak is not only the 

 great weapon of offense, but also the organ through which the 



Fig. 276. 



Fig. 277. 



Fig. 278. 



Side voew, natural size. 

 — OrigiyiaL 



Magnified heice. 

 ■ — Original. 



Beak much Tnagnijied. 

 — Original. 



food is sucked. By the use of this, the insect has gained the 

 sobriquet of " stinging bug." This compact, jointed beak is 

 peculiar to all true bugs, and by observing it alone we are able 

 to distinguish all the very varied forms of this group. The 

 antenna is four-jointed. The first joint (Fig. 279, a) is short, 

 the second and third (Fig, 279, b and c) are long and slim, while 

 the terminal one (Fig. 279, d) is much enlarged. This enlarged 

 joint is one of the characteristics of the genus Phymata, as 

 described by Latreille. But the most curious structural pecu- 

 liarity of this insect, and the chief character of the genus 

 Phymata, are the enlarged anterior legs (Figs. 280 and 281). 

 These, were they only to aid in locomotion, would seem like 

 awkward, clumsy organs, but when we learn that they are 



